Folding card table



Feb. 4, 1941. M HAwPE 2,230,684

FOLDING CARD TABLE Filed May 31, 1938 6 M AC m ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. '4, 1941 UNITED STATES FOLDING CARD TABLE.

Mason a. me e, Inglewood, Calif. Application May 31, ms, Serial No. 210,863

2Clalms.

This invention a folding card table which may be used, either as a poker table or as a bridge table.

The general object of the invention is to pro-1 of the table may be clear of everything, but the cards which are played on the table.

Another object is to provide a folding card table of the character stated with its legs constructed and arranged to be folded under the top of the table within the plane of the lower Walls of the troughs at the edges of the top, so that said legswhen folded will not project outwardly from the underside of the top beyond said troughs, thus providing a card table of the char- 20 acter stated which may be folded up compactly.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawing which forms a part of this specification 2 and in which: I

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an eight-sided poker table embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of my table as shown in Fig. 1. with the legs of table folded up. 30 Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my table, as shown r in Figs. 1 and 2, with its legs unfolded and set up in position for use.

Fig. 4 is a view like Fig. 3 with the legs of the table partly broken away, and with the detach- 5 able auxiliary top placed in position upon the-top of the table over the troughs at the edges of the top.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section of my table taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, showing one of the legs folded under the top of the table.

- Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section of my table taken on line H of Fig. 2. showing the legs folded under the top of the table with one pair of legs folded over the other pair of legs.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section like Fig. 5 showing one of the legs of the table unfolded into position for supporting thetop of the table.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a four-sided bridge 50 table embodying my invention.

Referring to the annexed drawing, in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters in all of the views, my card table includes generally a top I, a pair of folding 5 legs 2 and a pair of folding legs 3, and troughs 4 along the side edges respectively of the top I exteriorly of said edges. My table as shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive is a poker table formed with eight sides for as many poker players. 5 The troughs 4 are formed by inner side walls Ii, outer side walls 6, bottom walls I and end walls 8. The inner side walls I of said troughs are secured to the side edges respectively of the top I of the table, with the upper edges of said 10 inner side walls flush with the upper surface of said top. Each bottom wall I is secured to the lower edges of the side walls 5 and 8 of two adjoining troughs 4, and extends across and is secured to the lower edge of the end wall 8 which divides said two adjoining troughs, thus securing the adjoining ends of said adjoining troughs firmly together and making the troughs 4 very rigid. The upper edges 8 of the outer side walls 8 of the troughs 4 rest a short distance below the upper surface of the top I of the table, so that the arms of the card players may extend over and rest upon said upper edges of said outer side walls in a comfortable position. The upper edges III of the end walls 8 of the troughs 4 are inclined downwardly from the upper edges of the inner side walls 5 to the upper edges 9 of the outer side walls 6, so that said upper edges of said end walls will not be in the way of the arms of the card players. A felt cover II is placed over the upper surface of the top I of the table, with the edge of said cover tucked down tightly into a groove I2 between the side edges of said top and the inner side walls ii of the troughs 4, the side edges of the top I of the table being rabbeted to form said groove I2.

To the under side of the top I of the table are secured bars I3 and I4, extending at right angles to each other and'extending respectively from one opposite corner to another of the top I of 40 the table, to which bars are respectively hinged one end of the legs 2 by hinges I5 and one end of the legs 3 by hinges I5, the legs 2 being respectively hinged to the bar I3 near the opposite corners of the table top I, to which corners said bar extends, and the legs 8 being hinged respectively to the bar I4 near the opposite corners of the table top to which corners said bar extends, so that said legs may be folded up under the table top I parallel to said top, or unfolded downwardly from the under side of said top at right angles thereto at said four comersof the top, at 90 apart. Two blocks II are secured to the inner sides of adjoining troughs 4 opposite the legs 2 respectively and two blocks I8 are secured to the inner sides of adjoining troughs 4 opposite the legs 3 respectively. t e blocks I! being formed with notches I9 to receive the legs 2 when unfolded into their supporting 9 11 and the blocks" being-formed with notches 20 to receive the legs 3 when unfolded into supporting position, whereby said legs are properly positioned for supporting the top I of the table. Folding angle braces 2| and 22 are provided for firmly holding the legs 2 and 3 unfolded into the notches l9 and 20 respectively, the braces 2| being .connected at one end to an edge of the bar I8 and at their other end to the legs 2 respectively, and the braces 22 being connected at one end to an edge of the bar I4 and at their other end to the legs 8 respectively. The legs 2 are hinged by the conventional hinges IE to fold up close to the bar l3, while one leaf of the hinges it are formed with angular oilset portions 23, to enable the legs 8 to fold over the legs 2 within the plane of the bottom of the troughs 4, so that the legs 2 and 3 will not project beyond the bottom of said troughs when folded up, as shown in Fig. 7.

A detachable auxiliary top 24 may be placed upon the top I of my table to cover the troughs 4, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, so that my table may be used as an ordinary table, there being strips 25 secured to the underside of said auxiliary top to extend into the troughs 4, to engage the inner side walls 5 of said troughs, to hold said auxiliary top in proper position, against lateral displacement, on the table top I, and there being strips 26 secured to the underside of said auxiliary top along its edges to close the space between said auxiliary top and the upper edge 9 'of 4 the outer side walls 6 of the troughs 4, so as to give the edges of the table the appearance of an ordinary table.

My table, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawing has a square top 21 with troughs 28- along its four side edges respectively, for use as a bridge table; otherwise its construction is the same as my eight-sided poker table, as shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive of the drawing and as hereinbefore described.

In operation the card players sit at the sides of the table adjacent the troughs 4 respectively along assaeet the side edges of the top I ofthe table. and place the table clear for the cards which are played.

The upper edges 9. of the outer side walls 6 of the troughs 4 being below the surface of the top I of the table are out of the way of the arms of the players, so that the players may extend and use.

their arms freely and comfortably over said troughs in playing a card game.

The legs 2 and 3 may be readily unfolded and the table set up in position for use. as shown in Fig. 4, or said legs may be readily folded up with the legs I over the legs 2, as shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 7, when the table is not in use. When the legs are folded up the table may be put away in a small space such as a closet.

When it is desired to use the table as an ordinary table the auxiliary-top 24 may be placed upon the top I of the table over the troughs 4 as shown in Fig. 4. I

I do not limit my invention. to the exact construction herein shown since various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

being below the surface of said top, a detachable auxiliary top to be placed upon said top and over said troughs. strips secured to the under side of said auxiliary top-for closing the space between said auxiliary top and the upper edges of the outer walls of said troughs, and strips secured to the under side of said auxiliary top for engaging the inner walls of said troughs to prevent lateral displacement of" said auxiliary top on.said table top.

' MASON n. HAWPE. 

